Adjustable spray head

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to an adjustable spray head having a resilient face plate formed with a plurality of spray apertures therein. The face plate has an annular flange which cooperates with a tapered surface on the spray head body for flexing the face plate and thereby selectively changing the angular relationship of the apertures and thus the spray pattern.

United States Patent [191 111 3,719,328 Hindman 1 March 6, 1973 [5 1 ADJUSTABLE SPRAY HEAD R26,889 5 1970 l-lindman ..239/546 [76] Inventor: Clyde V. Hindman, 1385 East AVQ, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Morgantown, W. Va. 26505 358,757 1/1962 Uruguay ..239/546 [22] F1led: Oct. 22, 1970 Y 211 App. No: 3 114 Primary Examiner--M. Henson WOOd, J1.

Assistant Examiner-Michael Mar Att0rneyVictor M. Wigman [52] US. Cl. ..239/546, 239/461, 239/567 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05b 15/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search "239/548 This disclosure relates to an adjustable spray head having a resilient face plate formed with a plurality of spray apertures therein. The face plate has an annular [56] References cued flange which cooperates with a tapered surface on the UNITED STATES PATENTS spray head body for flexing the face plate and thereby selectively changing the angular relationship of the 3,402,893 9/1968 Hindman ..239/602 X apertures and thus the pray pattenm 3,130,919 4/1964 Baker 3,342,419 9/1967 Weese ..239/602 X 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAmmnm ems I SHEET 2 BF 2 ADJUSTABLE SPRAY HEAD This invention concerns an improvement with the ease of adjusting an adjustable spray head face, said invention comprising projection, or shoulder, at edge of flexible, resilient face which reacts to applied pressure and provides subsequent lever action for ease of altering the curvature of face and subsequent adjustment of spray pattern.

The general purpose of the present invention is to provide the resilient face of an adjustable spray head with projection, or shoulder, located at circumference, for lever action of a result of applied force for ease of increasing or decreasing the curvature of face which alters the angular relationship of the apertures therein, thereby controlling the spray pattern.

The shoulder is located at circumference edge of face and, depending on material, may be segmented to provide space for the shoulder segments inward movement reducing resistance and required force when same is squeezed thus providing easier adjustment. The shoulder will also provide additional body and surface for threads on appropriate designs where face is a disk with threads at circumference edge for threading same onto interior threads of shower head body for altering the curvature of face and subsequent spray pattern.

Appropriate designs may have segmented finger grips protruding from outer surface of face for gripping to turn and thread same thereby controlling spray pattern. Face could be provided with means for accepting a tool used for the same purpose.

Face could be thicker at particular areas to provide restrictive curvature, controlling same and subsequent spray pattern.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the spray head, and depicts the shell or body, the apertured face plate, and the threaded bonnet;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the spray head of FIG. 1, and depicts the face plate in an unflexed condition whereby the spray paths are parallel to the axis of the head;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the spray head of FIG. 1, and depicts the face plate in a flexed condition whereby the spray pattern is diffused;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the face plate;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the spray head; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the spray head of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 4 shows face F with shoulder S to receive the various applied pressure which alters the curvature of face F with ease due to leverage action of shoulder. The shoulder is shown segmented Y to provide space for the shoulder segments inward movement reducing resistance and required force when same is squeezed thus providing easier adjustment. Similar projection could also be on the opposite side of face used primarily to provide addi tional body and means to seal circumference. FIG. 3 discloses typical application with outer surface of shower head body B threaded, adjacent open end, to receive threaded bonnet X which abuts face F and controls position of same in relation to inwardly angled surface A on interior portion of shower head body adjacent open end. As the bonnet is screwed onto the body forcing the face rearwardly, shoulder S rearwardly and inwardly, squeezing same as circumference is reduced causing the face to flex and curve which controls the spray pattern. The more the bonnet is threaded onto the body forcing face rearwardly the greater the curvature of the face and the greater area distribution of spray pattern as a result of the increased pressure on the shoulder and subsequent leverage action. The shoulder S, contacting and sliding on angular surface A, provides a leverage action which effects the curvature of the face and provides an easier means of adjustment as position and subsequent pressure is altered. An additional asset for ease of adjustment when threading bonnet onto body, optional, is having the shoulder segmented Y to provide space for the displaced portion of the shoulder to move into with ease eliminating compression, reducing resistance required force and effort. Of course, as the bonnet is unscrewed the force against the face and the squeezing pressure on shoulder is lessened and the resiliency of both will cause the shoulder to slide outwardly due to less resistance and the face will approach its unbiased, flat form, thereby producing a more concentrated spray pattern. Any curvature alteration of face effects the angular relationship of apertures Z therein which controls the direction of stream and subsequent spray pattern.

FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose a similar application with shower head body B having interior tapered threaded surface T, adjacent open end, to receive exterior threaded face F and shoulder S for controlled position of same. As the face is screwed, by means of finger grips G, into the body forcing shoulder rearwardly and inwardly, squeezing same due to reduced circumference of tapered surface at particular position forcing face to flex and curve. The more the face is threaded into the body, forcing shoulder rearwardly, the greater the curvature of the face and the greater area distribution of the spray pattern as a result of the ever increasing pressure on the shoulder and subsequent leverage action. Finger grips are segmented so as not to restrict curvature of face. The threads on the face are for positioning the face and shoulder in conjunction with the tapered threads in the body which provides controlled pressure on shoulder and subsequent leverage action depending on location of same which is controlled by threading face inwardly or outwardly. The shoulder is segmented Y to provide similar results as with preceding example along with the resiliency of material and unbiased position as face is unscrewed thus reducing shoulder pressure, curvature of face, area of spray pattern, etc. Although the shoulder principle is emphasized for ease of adjustment, many of the functions will occur without a shoulder and this disclosure is intended to include such optional designs.

It will be noted that the water volume is substantially unaffected with the changing curvature of face and subsequent adjustment of spray pattern. This new spray head will definitely eliminate any needle effect had with adjustment of conventional spray heads, except with controlled increased water volume at individuals discretion.

These improvements for an adjustable shower head face provides very easy spray adjustment that is evenly distributed and thoroughly saturating with no water volume change with adjustment, no needle effect except with controlled increased water pressure, no dry area in center due to assembly screw head, no dry area between main spray are and extreme circumference for this adjustment does not effect only the water emitted at the circumference of the disk, as with the majority of other adjustable shower heads but it effects the angle of all the water emitted through the entire face. These improvements provide the ultimate spray pattern adjustment inaddition to lower competitive manufacturing cost and life time trouble free operation with very easy simple access for cleaning.

Although the disclosed practical embodiments are primarily referring to a circular face or disk of an adjustable shower head, the shoulder and lever action is feasible with other optional forms and designs to alter the curvature of a shower head face such as a band drawn around the shoulder of a shower head face, a face comprising a part of a disk, etc.

While several embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the scope of this invention, the specific details of structure shown and described are merely by way of example as the invention may take other forms and designs utilizing the shoulder and lever principle particularly.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim the following:

1. A spray head-comprising a shell, means to attach one end of said shell to a water pipe, said shell having an open opposite end with a tapered inner surface, an apertured face plate of resilient material closing said opposite end, said face plate including a generally cylindrical annular flange adapted to engage said tapered inner surface, and means rotatable relative to said shell and movable longitudinally of said shell when rotated to cause relative longitudinal movement between said annular flange and said tapered surface to flex said face plate to vary the diametric contour of said face plate and thereby change the angular relationship of the apertures in said face plate.

2. A spray head as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular flange has radial slots formed therein to permit inner radial deflection thereof as said flange is moved into engagement with said tapered surface.

3. A spray head as defined in claim 1 wherein said means rotatable relative to said shell includes a bonnet threadably engageable with said shell and having means engageable with said face plate for moving said face plate longitudinally relative to said shell.

4. A spray head as defined in claim 3 wherein said means engageable with said face plate includes a depending annular rim.

5. A spray head as defined in claim 1 wherein said means rotatable relative to said shell includes external threads on said annular flange threadably engageable with internal threads on said tapered surface, whereby rotation of said face plate will cause relative movement between said face plate and said shell.

6. A flow directing device for use with a spray head comprising an apertured face plate of resilient material, said face plate having a generally cylindrical annular flange, and radial slots formed in said flange defining a plurality of tabs, whereby radial deflection of said tabs will cause said face plate to flex to vary the diametric contour of said face plate and thereby change the angular relationship of the apertures in said face plate. 

1. A spray head comprising a shell, means to attach one end of said shell to a water pipe, said shell having an open opposite end with a tapered inner surface, an apertured face plate of resilient material closing said opposite end, said face plate including a generally cylindrical annular flange adapted to engage said tapered inner surface, and means rotatable relative to said shell and movable longitudinally of said shell when rotated to cause relative longitudinal movement between said annular flange and said tapered surface to flex said face plate to vary the diametric contour of said face plate and thereby change the angular relationship of the apertures in said face plate.
 1. A spray head comprising a shell, means to attach one end of said shell to a water pipe, said shell having an open opposite end with a tapered inner surface, an apertured face plate of resilient material closing said opposite end, said face plate including a generally cylindrical annular flange adapted to engage said tapered inner surface, and means rotatable relative to said shell and movable longitudinally of said shell when rotated to cause relative longitudinal movement between said annular flange and said tapered surface to flex said face plate to vary the diametric contour of said face plate and thereby change the angular relationship of the apertures in said face plate.
 2. A spray head as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular flange has radial slots formed therein to permit inner radial deflection thereof as said flange is moved into engagement with said tapered surface.
 3. A spray head as defined in claim 1 wherein said means rotatable relative to said shell includes a bonnet threadably engageable with said shell and having means engageable with said face plate for moving said face plate longitudinally relative to said shell.
 4. A spray head as defined in claim 3 wherein said means engageable with said face plate includes a depending annular rim.
 5. A spray head as defined in claim 1 wherein said means rotatable relative to said shell includes external threads on said annular flange threadably engageable with internal threads on said tapered surface, whereby rotation of said face plate will cause relative movement between said face plate and said shell. 